I'm new to the site, so I hope I'm posting my question in the right place. My Aunt recently passed away and left about 30 boxes (approximately 5,000 books) of comics behind. I live in NYC and will be heading out west soon to deal with the comics. Thus far, I haven't been able to get a sense of exactly what she has or the exact condition.

Assuming there's some value there, does anyone have a recommendation for a good comic appraiser somewhere in the pacific northwest? Google searches haven't yielded anything too promising. We've contacted some comic book stores out there, but I think there's a conflict of interest if the person assessing value is also looking to buy.

Also, any general advice for how to deal with so many books would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much!

When it comes to comics in big lots like this, please know that the vast majority (just shy of all) comic shops aren't willing to go through boxes and boxes of books to determine a value for you. They will just offer you a flat amount based on what generally is in them (books from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, etc). That flat value will be pennies on the dollar.

Depending on what the books are and what condition they are in will determine if it's worth going through on your own (or with the help of someone trustworthy and knowledgeable) to find anything worth trying to sell on your own.

But there isn't really "comic appraisers" out there. Just comic shops that have had so many lots like this show up they'll offer you $20-50 for all of them and then sell most for $1 a piece.

Josh, I live in New Jersey (Monmouth/Ocean County border) and have been selling comics since 1965. Once you get an idea of what is there let me know. It might be worth your while to ship them to me for an appraisal and then I could either buy them, sell them for you on commission or return them to you in New York. Many large dealers work this way all the time. It's a bit of a pain having to ship them but you will get a better deal than going to a comic shop. Also, if you go to a shop don't let them just buy certain issues. If you do they will take the good books and leave you with the common junk that no body wants.

Thanks for the leads/advice guys. I'm not looking to keep any for myself.

So it seems like I'll have to take a look at what's there and try to separate the wheat from the chaff. I'm fine selling the less valuable in bulk for a discount, just to get rid of them (Though taking $50 for thousands of comics sounds a little crazy). Going through the hassle of shipping or transporting the potentially valuable ones might indeed be worth it.

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